Your head throbbed with a dull, rhythmic ache as the morning light pierced through the thin curtains. You groaned softly, turning your head to the side, eyes still heavy with sleep and the aftermath of too much alcohol.

Bits of last night flickered through your mind like a broken film reel—music pounding, laughter, the burn of shots down your throat… and her.

Ivy.

You remembered her eyes first—green, wild, and intense. The way she pulled you into the dance floor with no hesitation, her hands on your waist, her mouth near your ear as she whispered something that made you laugh. You remembered the taste of her lips, the way her fingers tangled in your hair, the way it all felt like freedom after the betrayal you had discovered earlier that night.

The betrayal that brought you to that party in the first place.

You shifted under the sheets, and that’s when you felt it—bare skin against yours. You blinked fully awake and turned.

Ivy was lying beside you, naked, her hair a soft mess around her shoulders. She looked peaceful at first, her chest rising and falling steadily—then her eyes fluttered open.

When she saw you, she smiled.

“Morning,” she said, voice husky and sleep-soft.

You stared at her, heart racing, a flush creeping up your neck. “Did we…?”

She stretched, still smiling. “We definitely did.”

Your eyes widened, the weight of the night settling in. “Oh my God.”

She reached out and touched your arm gently. “Hey… don’t freak out.”

You sat up, holding the sheet to your chest. “I don’t usually do this. I was just… my boyfriend cheated on me, and I was—”

“Hurt. Angry,” she finished, propping herself up on one elbow. “Yeah. You told me.”

You looked at her, unsure if you should feel ashamed or relieved. “I don’t even know what this means.”

Ivy studied you for a moment, then gave a soft, understanding smile. “It doesn’t have to mean anything right now. But if you want it to mean something later... I’m around.”